Yelewata elders condemn harassment, thwarting of Peter Obi’s visit

By Johnson Arua

The Yelewata Council of Elders in Guma Local Government Area of Benue State has condemned what it described as the alleged harassment of residents and the attempt to prevent the 2027 presidential candidate of the New Nigeria Democratic Party, NDC, Mr Peter Obi, from visiting the community.

The elders alleged that Obi’s planned visit to Yelewata, where he was expected to commiserate with victims of the June 13–14, 2025 attacks that claimed more than 270 lives, was disrupted by alleged government-sponsored thugs in Makurdi.

Addressing journalists at a press conference, the council also alleged that the Chairman of Guma Local Government Area, Hon. Maurice Orwough, deployed thugs to Yelewata on the same day to harass and intimidate residents and prevent Obi from accessing the community if he succeeded in travelling from Makurdi.

The elders said the development was particularly disturbing because Obi’s proposed visit was intended to offer condolences and support to a community still struggling with the consequences of the attack.

According to them, “Mr. Peter Obi was to visit Yelewata to mourn with us over the loss of our dear ones from the armed Fulani herdsmen attacks, offer us consolation and support to a community that has continued to grapple with the consequences of the said attack.

“Unfortunately, his trip was reportedly disrupted by the alleged government-sponsored thugs in Makurdi.”

The council further alleged that Orwough verbally confronted some elders after they attempted to avoid a physical confrontation with the group allegedly deployed to the community.

It claimed that the chairman allegedly told the elders that they were “nothing” before him and boasted that even the Ter-Guma would appear immediately if summoned by him.

The elders also alleged that after noticing their displeasure with his remarks, the council chairman allegedly sent a proxy to offer them N50,000, which they rejected.

“We rejected it outright, telling him that he could not insult and disrespect us and then send N50,000 to us as though we could be bought,” the council said.

The elders described the alleged incident as “an act of brigandage,” insisting that Yelewata remained a peaceful and hospitable community despite the enormous suffering inflicted on its residents by the 2025 attack.

“Political differences must never be allowed to override our humanity or use the suffering of innocent citizens as a place for political contestation,” they said.

The council also declared that the people of Yelewata would not allow their suffering to be exploited for political purposes.

“We wish to reiterate that the people of Yelewata are not political pawns. We will not allow our blood to be politicised or our suffering used as a bargaining chip for political purposes,” it stated.

The elders apologised to Obi for what they described as the harassment, embarrassment and inconvenience allegedly suffered by him and his delegation, stressing that the community welcomed all well-meaning Nigerians.

“Yelewata people are peaceful, accommodating and welcoming. We do not condone such disgraceful acts of thuggery or power showmanship, and we are saddened that his genuine desire to sympathise with our people was met with hostility,” they said.

Freedom of movement

The council also cited Section 41(1) of the 1999 Constitution, which guarantees the right of Nigerian citizens to move freely throughout the country and reside in any part thereof.

While acknowledging that the Constitution permits limited restrictions on movement in circumstances reasonably justifiable in a democratic society, including public safety and public order, the elders urged authorities and political actors to ensure that such restrictions were lawful and necessary.

“We therefore appeal to all authorities and political actors to respect the constitutional rights of citizens and ensure that any restriction on movement is lawful, necessary and justifiable, not imposed through political intimidation or the activities of alleged thugs,” they said.

‘Yelewata has suffered enough’

The council said the community had continued to bear the consequences of the June 13–14, 2025 attack, which it said left more than 270 people dead and displaced many others.

It said the victims left behind grieving families, widows, widowers and orphans, while survivors continued to struggle to rebuild their lives.

According to the elders, prolonged insecurity and displacement had also prevented many residents from freely accessing their farms, depriving them of their major source of livelihood.

“Families are starving while the government has been unable to provide adequate assistance. In these circumstances, we cannot comprehend why anyone will want to prevent well-meaning individuals from visiting the community to extend sympathies,” the council said.

The elders also raised concerns over the failure to rebuild the Yelewata market, where several residents were trapped and killed during the attack.

They said more than one year after the incident, the market had yet to be rebuilt to the satisfaction of the community despite promises and discussions surrounding its reconstruction.

The council therefore called on the government to provide a full and transparent account of efforts to rebuild the market, as well as explain how donations and other forms of support pledged or received from individuals, organisations and international partners had been utilised.

“The people of Yelewata deserve transparency, accountability and action, not political promises,” it said.

Elders invite Obi back

The council expressed appreciation to Obi for his decision to visit Yelewata and commiserate with the community, urging him to return at his convenience to meet the families of the victims and extend the support he had planned to provide.

“The Yelewata Council of Elders sincerely appreciates the decision of Mr. Peter Obi to visit our community and stand with our people in their time of grief.

“We respectfully invite him to come back to Yelewata at his convenience to personally extend his sympathies to the families of the victims and offer the community the support he had planned,” the elders said.

They urged political leaders, government officials and their supporters to desist from what they described as playing politics with the lives and suffering of the people.

“Our people have suffered enough. The blood of our loved ones must never be used as a tool for political mobilisation, intimidation or personal gains,” the council declared.